388 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
almost in a line with the nostrils of the blind side, and 
extends back to a point, the distance between which and 
the caudal fin is at least more than half the least depth of 
the tail, and sometimes only slightly less than that depth. 
The peduncle of the tail is thus longer than in either 
of the preceding species. The longest rays of the dorsal 
fin, the 34th, 35th and 36th from the beginning, are 
equal in length to the postorbital part of the head (about 
12 % of the length of the body) or a little shorter. The 
anal fin resembles the dorsal fin, and terminates in the 
same manner, but begins just behind the perpendicular 
young specimens at least 10 %) of the length of the body. 
It usually contains 10 or 11 rays, the two (seldom three) 
uppermost simple, the others branched, and the third 
and fourth longest. In exceptional cases this fin contains 
12 rays". The pectoral fin of the blind side is visibly 
shorter, and generally contains 9 — 11 rays 6 , the fifth 
and sixth being the longest. All the rays are often 
simple (at least during youth), and this is always the 
case with at least the uppermost 6 or 7 rays and the 
lowest ray of all. The ventral fins are still shorter than 
the left pectoral fin, their length being about 8 % (during 
from the base of the pectoral fins, at a 
distance 
from 
youth about 6 %) of that of the body. They generally 
the tip of the snout that measures 27 — 
33 % (in 
youth 
contain 6 
simple rays, on the blind side sometimes only 
about 26 %) of the length of the body. 
The anal 
spine 
5, 
but the penultimate and antepenultimate rays are 
is sharp and pointed. The caudal fin is 
rounded at the 
sometimes 
imperfectly branched at the tip. The third 
hind margin. It contains 12 or 13 branched rays, and 
or 
fourth 
ray is the longest. 
2 or 3 simple rays above and below, the innermost of 
The 
lumber of rays is thus inconstant in all the 
the latter rays measuring 2 / 3 of the length of the fin 
fins. The 
following table shows how irregularly these 
and the outermost 1 / 3 . The pectoral fin of the eye side 
variations 
appear: 
measures 2 / 3 of the length of the head or 12 — 14% (in 
Length of the body „ 
in millimetres. 
A. 
p. 
V. 
c. 
a) 282 69 
52 
li 
6 
3 + 12 + 3=18 
b) 269 68 
52 
12|11 
6 
c) 267 69 
51 
11 
6 
d) 244 68 
52 
12|13 
6 
3 + 12 + 2 = 17 
e) 243 68 
53 
10 
6 
18 (SUNDEVALL.) 
f) 229 72 
55 
10 
6 5 
g) 222 67 
54 
10|9 
6 
18 ( „ ) 
h) 210 67 
54 
10 
6 
( „ ) 
i) 210 76 
59 
10|9 
6 
18 ( „ ) 
k) 133 80 
61 
11|10 
6 
18 ( „ ) 
1) 94 75 
55 
11 
6 
18 ( „ ) 
m) 57 71 
59 
10 
6 
n) 34 74 
— 
— 
— 
18 ( „ ) 
r fhe rays of the dorsal fin may thus vary between 
in 
the corresponding row to the anal fin. ddiey are 
67 and 80 c or to the extent of 14 rays, about 1 / 5 of the 
minimum number; but we have no grounds for regarding 
these individuals as members of two distinct species. 
It is remarkable, however, that the maximum number 
of rays in this fin, as well as in the anal, apparently 
appears in the younger specimens d . 
The scales are fairly large and regularly arranged, 
being thus easy to count. In the lateral line they are 
deeply imbedded, and number about 80 or 90b At the 
middle of the bod}- there are about 30 scales in an 
oblique row from the lateral line to the back and 32 
oblong and so narrow that they scarcely overlap each 
other at the sides, and the naked (outer) part is almost 
round. At the tip they are truncate, with between 8 
and 13 (sometimes as many as 20) fine, pointed, uni- 
serial spines. On the blind side the scales of the hind 
part of the body have fewer spines, and those of the 
front part none or only one or two. On the eye side 
the body is almost entirely covered with scales, large 
and imbricated, as usual, on the hind part; and only 
the nasal region and the snout, together with the lips 
and the greater part of the jaws, are scaleless, while small 
“ This is the case with the two females sent to the Royal Museum from Wisby by Professor Lindstr6m. 
6 One of the above specimens from Gothland has 13 rays in the pectoral fin of the blind side. 
c According to Gottsche the minimum may be as low as 65. 
d Also according to Kr0YEr’s table, 1. c., p. 299. 
e In different individuals we have found 79, 83, and 90 scales in the lateral line. The arched part of the line ends between the 24th and 27 th scales 
